How to Do Ageing. Lessons and tales from 10 trailblazing women making sparks fly⚡️

Our latest postcards from the frontline of the revolution that's igniting fearless reinvention after 50

Jul 05, 2025

“Age out loud. Make sparks fly.”

Road Trip to Younger is the go-to guide to healthy ageing for women over 50

After nearly 30 years as a journalist and magazine editor, I’m here, with healthy longevity as my ‘beat’—cutting through the hype, decoding the science and fighting to change the narrative on ageing. Destination: Joyspan—the longest, healthiest and most empowered lifespan possible.

We’re the community of women growing younger as we grow (gloriously) older.

A big welcome to all our new subscribers. It’s wonderful to have you here!

As part of this wander-loving road trip, I love what we do here…

But… confession: even next to all the projects I worked on in my magazine days, The Postcard Project is a very particular favourite.

The women I've met, the stories they've shared. But also, the way it all started: Six months ago, as a curious callout on a lazy Sunday, for other women 50+ who were turning ageing upside down.

The torrent of stories came and came, for weeks upon weeks—remarkable tales of women spinning their tyres away from the ever-narrowing road. Foot to the floor, they were taking themselves towards full-blown adventures.

The Great Reinvention

What became clear, as the stories rolled in on Substack's "Notes" platform, was that women were not only reinventing ageing—they were reinventing themselves. And having, quite literally, the time of their lives doing so.

It's always fascinating how each batch of postcards reveals its own thread. This time, what emerges is a theme of sparks flying with opportunity, expansion, and bold new possibilities.

Claiming Our Agency

Of course, ageing is undeniably about change, and certainly there's vulnerability in that. But what we see here is what happens when we embrace that change and claim our agency.

As 81-year-old Karen Blue, put it: change is "a challenge to be met with courage, excitement” and, she says (let’s not deny it), fear." Yet, I love her call around the value of pushing forward; her wisdom that often what drives us forward is our natural wanderlust for discovery—and asking ourself “what's on the other side?"

There's boldness in blooming—a mindset of ageing not as wilting, but as unfurling.

Ageing Out Loud

Giving yourself permission to forge new trails isn't always easy. But if there's one small thing we can do to make a difference, it's being a cheer squad—for others (and ourselves!)—to age out loud.

And that’s probably why this project excites me most: Seeing so many women kicking down the hurdles and tired narratives of who we "should" be. We’re being whoever we want to be—a generation of women doing ageing our own way and growing old as none before have grown old: gloriously!

You’re invited to be part of the Postcard Project. Share your story about how you’re flipping the script on ageing in the Comments (hit the button below), OR see the blank postcard at the end of this story.
You have mail! 💌

Introducing the Trailblazers

Part 4 of The Postcard Project

Meet our 10 amazing women. They’re living proof that the prime of life can be wherever we want it to be, and often that’s right in front of us. Their stories span continents and adventures, as well as adversity and good fortune, sometimes all of them in one lifetime. Most of all, they're making sparks fly in their own wild and brilliant ways.

Here they are, with clickable links, so you can enjoy their work and connect.

Michelle Dowd 💌

Lisa-Marie Cabrelli, Ph.D 💌

Nancy Ackerman 💌

Tanmeet Sethi 💌

Jane Trombley 💌

Podcast

Kim Doyal 💌

Christine Morrison 💌

Kate Cone Brancaccio 💌

Karen Blue 💌

Lindsay Dahl 💌

Book

Now it’s your turn! A personal invitation 💌

I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough of this stuff. So I wanted to send you an invitation to be part of this initiative and keep these stories coming.

I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of this stuff. So I wanted to send you an invitation to be part of this initiative and keep these stories coming. We want to see your "postcard from the road"!

Or you may like to follow the lead of Postcard Project alumni Marla Grant, who nominated her dear friend, 82-year-old Nancy Ackerman, who's featured here in Part 4.

Here’s how to do it

Step 1:

Using the pdf link below, download and print your blank postcard.

PDF DOWNLOAD: YOUR BLANK POSTCARD

Rtty The Postcard Project

969KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Step 2:

Add your handwritten story—how wonderfully old school! Include your age and a plotted history of your journey in all its glory-ness, or gory-ness (no need to sugar coat it).

Step 3:

No stamp required! Just upload a pic of your postcard, or that of a friend you’d like to nominate, simply click the image below. It takes you to our dedicated Postcard Project Substack Chat.

That’s it! I’ll be loitering around with intent—and I can’t wait to read, and share, your stories!

Join Brodee Myers-Cooke’s subscriber chat

Available in the Substack app and on web

A very special thank you to all the wonderful women who have contributed to The Postcard Project to date.

I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting these wonder gals as much as I have. Each one has, yet again, changed the shape of my brain around ageing.
Legends, one and all!

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With many thanks in advance for your support.

Brodee xox